The field of the national squash championships now being played in New York traditionally comprises the finest players in the country, both in the individual and team championships, and this year is no exception.

Because of the quality of its players, it has always offered an excellent opportunity to the Crimson team to gain valuable match experience and see some of the country's top players in action. Occasionally, however, a Harvard team actually has one of the country's top players in its ranks, and that is the case this year.

While Henri Salaun and Diehl Mateer are definitely the top two squash racquets men in America, Heckscher has moved up within striking distance of both. Several times in the past year, he has come within a hair's breadth of taking an important first win from one of them.

At the beginning of the season, Heckscher was ranked seventh in the country, grouped with such near-great players as Cal McCracken, and Henry Foster. Now, however, he appears to have moved a bit past these men and is ready to make his bid for the top prize.

In the team championship, Harvard does not stand much of a chance. Heckscher, because of his national rank, will be unable to play on the team, and since most other squads have an entire city or even country to draw upon, it seems unlikely that the varsity will be able to get past the first few rounds.